Where Is God’s Hand?
I read a quote recently: “Those who leave everything in God’s hand will see God’s hand in everything.” This got me to thinking. What are some of those ‘everything’ areas that we may not see or possibly even take for granted? In this devotion, I’d like for us to explore some of those areas.
Without a doubt, we would all agree that we’re facing battles like we’ve never experienced before. The stress of this end time can be so overwhelming that it can seem impossible to stand on our own two feet. Before going any further, let me expose a lie that Satan has tried on everyone. The lie is that your stress is more severe because of your dedication to the Lord.
Discouraged Christian, what you may not realize is that non-believers around you are stressed to the max! The American Journal of Public Health reported that suicides have now surpassed car crashes in injury related deaths. In fact, more U.S. soldiers died last year from suicide than from combat. So let’s have a reality check. Serving God is not the source of our stress! In fact God speaks to us in Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee: yea I will help thee: yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” One of the definitions of the word uphold is: “to keep elevated.” If we will only let God, His hand will keep us elevated above the hopelessness in which our world is drowning!
The important thing to realize is that we cannot experience the strength of God’s hand, unless we are close to His heart. How many people have resisted the hand of God when He was only trying to help? For example, imagine that a masked man is approaching your dearest family member with a knife. With that in mind, think that of what you would do in that scenario. Call the police? Yell for help? Attack the masked man yourself? But then I reach out to restrain you. “Wait a minute! This man is not a criminal” I say. “He is a surgeon! Your family member is not a potential crime victim but a surgery patient!” Your perception of this masked man changes when you realize who he really is. My friend, God is not trying to kill you! He only wants to transform you into something better.
It’s easy to jump to the wrong conclusions when the hand of God is at work in our lives. That flat tire on the way to work may have spared you from a car accident. The job you so desperately prayed for…but didn’t get…may have been God sparing you from an enviroment that would have drained you spiritually. When God’s hand closes a door in our lives, we shouldn’t keep trying to pick the lock.
As humans, we don’t like the restraining aspect of God’s hand. Just as you grab a child’s arm when you see a car approaching, the child tries to resist you, despising the restraint. But as you grip them tighter, you know that the restraint has probably saved their life! In our lives as Christians, restraint is a very important part of spiritual growth. Couldn’t we all agree that the biggest area in which we should pray for God’s restraining hand is over our tongue? One old saying goes like this: “Lord, keep one hand on my shoulder and one hand over my mouth!”
That reminds me of the family that invited the preacher over for Sunday dinner. As the food was being brought to the table, the preacher asked their son what they were having. “Goat,” the little boy replied. “Now Johnny, you know that’s not true!” the horrified mother exclaimed. “Why would you say such a thing?” Johnny shrugged his shoulders and replied, “Well, this morning I heard Dad say that today is just as good as any to have that old goat for dinner!” When we are praying for God’s hand to be with us, we should probably ask Him to put it over our mouth if necessary.
What other areas is God’s hand at work in your life? Young person, maybe you are crying bitter tears because the one you seriously hoped to spend the rest of your life with is now talking to someone else. But could it be that God is sparing you from untold grief and pain? It is very possible that a much greater plan will soon unfold in your life through another companion that God has “hand picked” just for you. If the work of God’s hands are a mystery to you, never think that the mystery is a mistake. God’s will is always right and always right on time!
As we end this devotion, keep in mind that God not only wants to work for you, but through you! You see, in many ways, WE are His hand extended in our daily interactions with our family, our friends, our lost coworkers, and even the stranger we pass on the street. In this self centered generation, let us demonstrate the love and compassion that we have received of God’s hand.
Let me leave you with the words to an old song, “Oh to be His hand extended, reaching out the lone and distressed. Let me touch Him, let me touch Jesus, so that others may know and be blessed.”